Saturday, July 7, 2012
By Richard Bolen
- OPINION
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Saturday, July 7, 2012
This is a defense of the candidates who were struck from the primary ballot by the South Carolina Supreme Court in May. It is particularly tiresome to hear that "any candidate who was too dumb to file their papers properly is not fit to be elected to any office." That sentiment reflects the lack of understanding of the facts by the speaker rather than the true situation. First we need to look at the history of the law and its application to see how we got where we are today. South Carolina’s original ethics law, which is the source of all of this controversy, is a product of Operation Lost Trust from the early 90’s when several legislators were indicted and convicted for corruption. As a result of that scandal the ethics law was created …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Groups around the state joined to launch 'Operation Lost Vote' in an effort to get signatures for petition candidates in the wake of ballot controversy.
A statewide movement was launched Monday to get more than 180 candidates who were thrown off the ballot for the June primary on November ballots as petition candidates. Known as 'Operation Lost Vote' groups from around the state including the Palmetto Liberty PAC, RINO (Republican In Name Only) Hunt and the Columbia Tea Party are joining forces to inform voters "that their right to a free and fair election was stripped from them by a corrupt legislature." Other events were held or scheduled Monday in North Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg. "We got a real problem with corruption in South Carolina," said Talbert Black of the Palmetto Liberty PAC. "I think what we're witnessing is the result of absolute power being held by the General…
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
After hearing arguments Tuesday, the state Supreme Court is now considering a lawsuit that could drastically alter political races across South Carolina.
In the next few days, the state Supreme Court could determine whether more than 100 candidates for state and county offices will be forced off ballots in the June 12 party primaries. The high court on Tuesday heard arguments in a lawsuit with far-reaching implications for scores of candidates statewide who are challenging incumbents for their House and Senate seats, and numerous countywide offices as well. The lawsuit, brought by two Lexington County men, argues that challengers statewide and from both major parties, failed to follow state election laws in declaring their candidacies. Specifically, the case argues that three Lexington pols failed to file financial disclosure forms as required, thus nullifying their candidacies and …
Monday, April 30, 2012
Lexington suit that suddenly threatens the races of dozens of state and local candidates across South Carolina goes before the state Supreme Court on Tuesday.
What started out as a lawsuit that could impact the races of a handful of Lexington County candidates running for state and local-level offices is now rippling throughout the entire state. At stake? Dozens of candidates (at least 83 so far) could see their names pulled from the June 12 party primary ballots on account that they failed to submit legally mandated financial disclosure forms within the required timeframe. This report from SCNOW lists many of the candidates who, so far, could see their names pulled from ballots. The state Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in the suit Tuesday morning in Columbia. The court meantime has ordered election officials to stop distributing ballots for the June primary until the matter is resolved…
reg
12:21 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Correction, Alex. The bill went through the state house with no problem. It was going to sail right through the senate, too, but it never got to come to a vote at all. And all because of one state senator - Jake Knotts. the guy who started all this to begin with when his "supporters" (paid campaign staff) filed the original suit against his primary opponent. It was Jake Knotts who tabled the vote… more ›